# OPRAH- It's Not Because You Were Black! Get the Hell Over It! (lame)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [June 28, 2005, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207 "2005-06-28T15:19:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 8
### Author:  [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2005, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/141 "2005-06-30T12:48:08Z")
> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> Just because you asked an openly gay male to perform a sexually explicit act on you that is associated most with prison rape and degredation, why would I find that offensive? Just as I’m sure you’re man enough not to find it offensive if I call you a sorely deluded, hypersensitive, self-absolving victim mentalitied whining neurotic failure borne of a schizoaffective three-dollar whore and a random member of the trainload of drunk circus freaks who skipped town without paying her. (No offense meant to circus freaks, of course.)
That’s why I love you, man. You can really sling it. Props.
---
### Author:  [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2005, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/142 "2005-06-30T13:00:48Z")
> [@Zoe](#):
>
> You have put your finger on the distinction in women reared in West Tennessee and those reared in Middle Tennessee.
\*\* Zoe\*\* knows why I’m laughing at this.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/143 "2005-06-30T16:58:31Z")
> [@Zoe](#):
>
> I do remember a time when she could handle bigots without missing a beat. She was a reporter for a local television station here when she was just 18 or so. She went to do an interview with a local businessman. She put out her hand to shake hands with him and he said, “I don’t shake hands with _niggers_.” She quickly responded, “I’ll bet the _niggers_ are glad.”
I’m not an Oprah fan, but that rocks.
---
### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/144 "2005-06-30T17:37:32Z")
I also remember an incident when Oprah was hosting a show from Forsythe County, an all-white county in Georgia that was in the news for fighting integration attempts. One drawling local hoped to make a point about the use of “black people” v. the use of the word “nigger”. She starts out with “When a Southerner says _nigger_, we aren’t meaning it as a slur against all black people… it’s a particular type of person. A _nigger_ can be any color… there are _niggers_ in this room other than Oprah…”
The look on Oprah’s face was priceless, at once reading “You poor stupid cracker…” and “Oh. good. God.” and “Prosecution rests.”. At that particular moment I think I was in love with her. (And for what it’s worth, I grew up in the rural south and while it’s true that there are people who use the N word only to describe particularly sorry black people there are also many who use it interchangably with “black” and I have never once heard it used to refer to a white person.)
I still think the likelihood of a store that sells $16,000 handbags turning away a billionaire due to racism is ludicrous.
---
### Author:  [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/145 "2005-06-30T17:55:01Z")
I’m wondering what their cheapest item is–I’d like to buy me a lil somethin’.
I actually think this story has legs because it allows us to talk about racism, and it involves entitlement, celebrity and money.
I doubt Hermes did anything wrong; I doubt Oprah did anything but pout.
But it’s the issues that need discussing–Oprah and Hermes provide the premise.
Just my two cents(which won’t get me close to Hermes’ door!).
---
### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/146 "2005-06-30T18:50:47Z")
In the other thread, there was some debate over Oprah’s claims to be a Zulu. Well, looks like the Zulus [rejected her](http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/47862004.htm).
_snort_
---
### Author:  [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/147 "2005-06-30T18:55:02Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#):
>
> I’m wondering what their cheapest item is–I’d like to buy me a lil somethin’.
They do not appear to sell purses [onlline](http://www.hermes.com/), but I found an ashtray for only $450.
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/148 "2005-06-30T20:02:40Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#):
>
> They do not appear to sell purses [onlline](http://www.hermes.com/), but I found an ashtray for only $450.
They have coffee mugs for just $95 and ties beginning at $145.
Their handbags are all handmade and most require waiting periods (some of up to two years). I think the Lucy Liu episode of _Sex in the City_ was inspired by their handbag wait.
---
### Author:  [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/149 "2005-06-30T20:26:12Z")
I shudder to think how bellicose **Belowjob 1.0** was…
---
### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/150 "2005-06-30T23:29:53Z")
> [@TwistofFate](#):
>
> Great. Just what Middle America needs, another lie to get upset with the French about.
I am **not** fucking calling them “Oprah fries.” “Freedom fries” was pretty asinine, but “Oprah fries” is just beyond the pale.
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### Author:  [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2005, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/151 "2005-07-01T01:53:11Z")
How about [okra fries](http://www.scary-crayon.com/food/rlunch/7/)?
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### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/152 "2005-07-01T02:13:30Z")
> [@Wolfian](#):
>
> How about [okra fries](http://www.scary-crayon.com/food/rlunch/7/)?
It’s a good thing I wasn’t eating when I clicked that link. :::shudder:::
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### Author:  [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2005, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/153 "2005-07-01T10:54:40Z")
> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> They have coffee mugs for just $95 and ties beginning at $145.
>
> Their handbags are all handmade and most require waiting periods (some of up to two years). I think the Lucy Liu episode of _Sex in the City_ was inspired by their handbag wait.
**TYM** -
Ashtray for $450?! I would need to at least smoke, no? Lord-pick up an expensive habit and then pay a premium to hold the detritus!
I could wrap my head around a $95 coffe mug, I suppose–I would never want to use it for fear of losing my investment…
OK-here is my question. IF THE FREAKIN’ HANDBAGS HAVE TO BE CUSTOM MADE, WHY WAS OPRAH TRYING TO GET ONE AFTER HOURS FOR MS. TURNER?
Just askin’.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2005, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/154 "2005-07-01T12:46:56Z")
She didn’t want a handbag, she wanted a watch or something like that.
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### Author:  [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2005, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/155 "2005-07-01T12:54:05Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#):
>
> **TYM** -
> Ashtray for $450?! I would need to at least smoke, no? Lord-pick up an expensive habit and then pay a premium to hold the detritus!
Actually, they’re quite nice looking. You could use it as an object d’art for your coffee table. Dunno if you’d want to let your guests take it out on the patio though. 😉
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### Author:  [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/156 "2013-08-09T17:35:39Z")
Is zombie Oprah back for a sequel?
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### Author:  [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/157 "2013-08-09T17:56:47Z")
> [@corncobpipe](#):
>
> **Sampiro** , how on earth do you know what happened? Were you there? I’m not being a dick, but this is a classic “who do you believe” situation.
>
> Are you aware that boutiques like Hermes routinely open up after hours for celebrities so the they don’t have mix with the great unwashed and/or the papparazzi?
>
> Maybe Oprah is being a prima donna. Maybe the store people thought she was a North African shoplifter. Who knows?
The celeb would or would have a “personal assistant” call ahead and arrange things with management. I’ve had to do this sort of treatment for celebrities before.
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### Author:  [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/158 "2013-08-09T18:30:55Z")
OK, this is confusing. Did a spammer revive this or something?
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### Author:  [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/159 "2013-08-09T18:42:29Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#):
>
> OK, this is confusing. Did a spammer revive this or something?
I’m sure the thread CPR is due to [this recent incident](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23633768). (Again involving a handbag and Tina Turner. Go figure.)
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### Author:  [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oprah-its-not-because-you-were-black-get-the-hell-over-it-lame/310207/160 "2013-08-09T18:54:17Z")
OK, thanks. Haven’t heard of that, but I’m not a big Oprah follower anyway. Never watched the show.
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